Stage 9‘s centennial season opens with a special 100th Anniversary production of The Trojan Women on January 22, 2016. This two night, special event staged reading of Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation of Euripides’ masterpiece, The Trojan Women, plays at Stage 9 on January 22 and 23, 2016 at 7:30 pm. Extremely limited admissions for this fundraising event are $20.

In recognition of its 100th Anniversary, Stage 9 will be presenting a staged reading of Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation of Euripides’ theatrical classic The Trojan Women. Ms. McLaughlin’s version of the Greek tragedy has been endorsed by Tony Kushner (a Pulitzer Prize Winning playwright) and is a modern take easily accessible to even the most inexperienced theatre goer. The story of The Trojan Women holds particular poignancy in our present world of unrest and savagery with ISIL and the Syrian refugee crisis bringing immediacy to a script that is over two millennia old.

After a ten-year siege by the Greek army, the city of Troy is taken by stealth using the device of a Trojan horse. All the men of Troy have been killed, leaving the women of Troy to fend for themselves. The Trojan Women is unusual in that there is little plot and almost no action. Instead, Stage 9’s reading will attempt to evoke the unrelenting tension the women of Troy are experiencing: their husbands have been murdered, their children taken from them, and a sense of their own impending doom hangs over the play. Many tough questions are asked. Where is the dignity, the pity for the women of Troy? What are the after-effects of war? In perhaps the greatest piece of anti-war literature, Euripides gives a very straight-forward, unflinching look at the relationships between men and women, the status of women, and lives and treatment of women, especially in war time.

Stage 9 is the current name for an organization which has morphed over the last 100 years. Originally founded as the Hutchinson Women’s Club in 1916, Stage 9 recently unveiled its new brand, retiring its last name, Hutchinson Theatre Guild. The Trojan Women is the first production the Hutchinson Women’s Club presented in 1916. The Board of Directors specifically selected McLaughlin’s version of The Trojan Women as a throwback to the anniversary and because of its contemporary accessibility. The public reading is not a full production and will be performed for only two nights.

The Trojan Women is directed by Nancy Sliker. Charles Johnston serves as scenery, lighting and sound designer. Cast members include Jocelyn Woodson, Paula Rothe, Jo Stropes and Kelly Gauthier. Todd Ray and Charles Johnston provide their vocal talents for recordings as the male characters in the production.

Performances for The Trojan Women will occur January 22 and 23, 2016. A special Talkback will occur after the performance on Friday night where cast, crew and a professional expert will be available to discuss the themes and events in the production and put them in a discussion format where their modern context can be explained.

Tickets are $20. Patrons must be eight years old to attend Stage 9 productions. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at stage9hutch.com as well as at Apron Strings, located at the intersection of Sherman and Main Street in downtown Hutchinson three weeks prior to opening. Patrons may also purchase tickets at the door one hour prior to a performance.

All seating is general admission. The house opens at 7:00 p.m. Stage 9 seats 85 people and seats are available on a first come, first served basis. To check performance availability, please contact Stage 9 by email at [email protected] or by phone at 316-350-PLAY (7529).

The Trojan Women is performed by special arrangement with Playscript, Inc.

For more information about The Trojan Women or to schedule interviews with the director, contact Charles Johnston at 646-628-4353 or [email protected]. You may also contact Johnston for information about program advertising or sponsorship for Stage 9’s 2016 Season.